From left to right, Laura and Jo Sauriol recently reported to Monson selectmen about the Natural Hazards Research and Applications Workshop they attended in Colorado. Jo is Laura's mother.
(The Republican / Lori Stabile)

MONSON — The Facebook page, Monson Tornado Watch 2011, became the go-to website after the twister roared through the town, leaving a path of destruction in its wake.

With telephone lines and power out, people turned to the Internet for information. And what began as a simple way for then-high school senior Laura Sauriol to get updates about her friends swelled into a group that has more than 1,800 members.

Two years later, it still provides updates about weather and progress about the recovery effort.

Sauriol, 19, now a student at Holyoke Community College, went to Colorado in July to talk about her experience with the Facebook page and how she harnessed the power of social media to get the word out about resources in the uncertain days after the twister struck.

She represented the town of Monson and was an example of youth involved in disaster recovery.

The workshop, which covers a four-day period, has been held since 1975 for 400 federal, state and local emergency officials; representatives of nonprofit and humanitarian organizations; hazards researchers; disaster consultants; and others dedicated to alleviating the impact of disasters, according to its description on its website.

The Sauriols were panelists in the discussion: “The Next Generation: Role of Youth in Community Resiliency.”

Laura Sauriol said that it was helpful for her to be there and share her experiences with social media. She said many of the attendees were people in “high positions” but who are unaware of how to use social media to their advantage.

She said using social media is a way to get important messages out quickly, something that is especially important in instances of extreme weather because there is often little warning. She said many participants seemed encouraged after hearing her story.

Many of them, she said, “had never used social media themselves.”

“Making a (Facebook) page is a big jump for them. It was really interesting being there,” Sauriol said.

Sauriol explained that she brought her mother, Jo, along as her project mentor. Jo Sauriol also helps maintain the tornado watch Facebook page.

Town Administrator Gretchen E. Neggers noted Laura Sauriol was one of the few youth who attended the conference. The cost of the trip was $1,500 and paid through the gifts to the town account.

Selectmen Chairman Edward A. Maia said he was going to make sure that the town’s emergency management director reached out to Laura Sauriol to join the emergency management committee.

Said Neggers, “I think that it’s great that you did it.” Neggers asked if she could provide specific information from the conference, to help the town.

Jo Sauriol said that at the beginning of the conference she started thinking “Monson really had this down pat.” The key, Jo Sauriol said, is to stay current with technology, as the town is no stranger to inclement weather.

Whenever Emergency Management Director Evan Brassard posts something on his Facebook page, Jo Sauriol said she immediately shares so that it reaches as many people as possible.

“It’s best to be prepared. I’m more than happy to be involved in anything ongoing in the town,” Jo Sauriol said.

The Sauriols were thanked for their efforts. Maia thanked Laura Sauriol for being such a “positive representative” for the town.

Selectman Edward S. Harrison asked how the town of Monson could leverage social media effectively “because it seems to me they’re waging social revolutions these days using social media and getting almost instantaneous results.”

Getting information out to the general public has always been one of the most difficult things to accomplish, Harrison said.

Jo Sauriol said if a community puts an update on its website, no one will know, but with social media, updates hit cellular phones instantly. Neggers noted also that there are certain parts of town that do not have cable service.

In a related move, selectmen unanimously approved declaring September “Preparedness Month,” as requested by Liz Manley, Monson Medical Reserve Corps. coordinator. September is National Preparedness Month.

Manley said a health and wellness fair will be held on Sept. 28 at the senior center, and they will have information available about preparedness at the Big E in West Springfield, which runs Sept. 13 to 29.